A new adventure, a new horizon opening its door, starting tomorrow January 21! Bram, leaves with companions Tim and Arno, for the frozen river "Chaddar" trek in the Indian region of Ladahk. An 19-day trip, to experience an almost forgotten world, hidden far into the himalayas, called the Zanskar valley. The extreme and long winter, closes the acces to and from this valley for 8 months. Except for a window opening up the access in the middle of the winter for 2 months, when the river freezes up enough to allow the people of Zanskar to travel down by foot to do their trades in Leh.The Chaddar trek is risky, with extreme temperatures and unpredictable ice conditions, requiring experienced guides from the Zanskar valley to stipple out safe routes and as porters. There will be 9 guides/porters accompanying their little group of 3p. Sounds a lot, but imagine that these guys need to carry logistics, supplies, tents, etc for a whole week, incl. for themselves. All very basic camping, in caves, along the rives. Temperatures have been known to drop to -60°c under the most extreme circumstances... but most likely the temperatures will only.. vary around -30°c. I have posted links to a photo gallery site and a film documentaty on the blog (see right hand side of blog) with beautiful footage from the Zanskar valley.
Tim has done a great job and is bringing all technology incl. a satellite phone, so hopefully I'll be able to receive news as they go, to post on this blog. Arno, who's a skilled "free-lance" journalist writing excellent travel journals for a dutch motorcycle magazine, will hopefully put together a complete story for us to enjoy upon their return!
Of course we're all looking at the destruction of Haiti and its people at the moment and I know our hearts go out to them. Bram will take the TENEBO cause and flag with him on the trip, and for you who want to support it, you'll be asked to donate the equivalent in euros of the coldest temperature measured during the trip. The donations will all go to an orphanage in Port au Prince, Haiti, for children who have lost parents to AIDS, "la maison l'Arc-en-Ciel" (the rainbow house), you'll find the link on the blog. There's also a Facebook page you can follow by joining their group. You'll find it on my FB page. Of all the many organisations to choose in between, we chose this one cause its direct acces and possibility to follow their progress first hand. No in between organsations. Please join the cause, I know it'll motivate Bram to go even further.I will end todays entry by wishing Bram, Tim and Arno a fantastic trip, I think it'll be amazing the world you'll discover so far away and so very different. Have a safe trip. Peace & love everybody. xxx Jenny
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